Anyone who steps out onto the diamond does so in one of the most important roles in the whole of the baseball team. These defensive players must face the batters, which takes confidence and mental strength, and start each play. They control the tempo of the game, and it’s (part of) their responsibility to record strike outs and prevent batters from scoring runs.
The importance of pitching well means players must be on top of their game, every game. If you’re considering placing a parlay bet and deciding whether it’s worth it, which you can do using a parlay calculator, you’ll want to take the form of the pitcher into account. Below is a look at some of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) today.
Shohei Otani
Japanese pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Otani is the greatest two-way player in history. He made a reputation for himself early in his youth as a pitcher, and when he was spotted by a talent scout, he made it clear he wanted to join the MLB immediately. After a spell in Japanese baseball, he achieved his dream of playing in the MLB by signing for the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.
Today, Otani serves the LA Dodgers. He throws a variety of pitches, which makes it hard for opponents to prepare for what’s coming, and he has a knack for dominating with strikeouts. He’ll demoralize teams by restricting their runs to a mere trickle during his innings, and then smash home runs while facing their pitchers.
Otani’s mindset, combined with his baseball skills, has made him a unique player. He has a laser sharp focus on his game and a habit of defying expectations. His mindset has led some to compare him to the great basketballer Michael Jordan.
Zack Wheeler
Zach “Wheels” Wheeler pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies and started off in MLB in 2013 with the New York Mets. The stats show just how well he’s developed through the 10 years plus since then. In 2013, his season’s earned runs average (ERA) was 3.42 and has gradually fallen as the years advanced, improving to the 2.70 mark in 2021 and 2022 before climbing back into the threes in the 2023 season.
Wheeler is an intimidating presence out on the mound, partly because of his 6’4” frame. He has a wicked variety of throws, including an explosive fastball, hard curve and a tricky slider. Opposing batters never know what’s coming because of his ability to mix up his game. Mentally, one of his most amazing strengths is resetting his focus between plays and innings when things are going well. He’ll focus on what he can control, which gives him strength and confidence to pitch the next play. He’s also not scared to play aggressively in games.
Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burners, pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, began his professional days with the Milwaukee Brewers rookie affiliate team, the AZ Brewers, before promotion to the major league in July 2018. Burnes is especially noted for striking batters without a walk. In 2021, he struck out 40 batters without a walk in his first four starts. He also set the record for the most strikeouts without issuing a walk (58) in May 2021. So far, he boasts a career ERA of 3.14.
Burnes, a three-time All Star, is a real asset. Since that marvelous 2021 season, some of his stats have dipped slightly but the pitcher has shown resilience in gradually reestablishing his form. He’s still striking out plenty of batters and even when his stats dip, they remain the stats of a quality player.
Logan Webb
Logan Webb pitches for the San Francisco Giants and played in the several smaller and minor league teams before finally breaking into the Giants major team. The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Augusta Green Jackets, San Jose Giants and Richmond Flying Squirrels all benefited from Webb’s talents before the Giants promoted him to the big leagues.
The athletic, three-pitch pitcher has an excellent natural feel for pitching and is fearless on the mound. On his MLB debut in 2019, he struck out seven batters within five innings and allowed only one run. On his second consecutive Opening Day start for the Giants, in March 2023, he posted a career high of 12 strikeouts. He holds a career EAR of 3.41.
The gritty player has shown a real ability to push on despite adversity. Believe it or not, Webb has severe astigmatism. He’s overcome the challenge by using contact lenses and developing a feel for the mound.
The MLB has some ferocious pitchers out there on its diamonds. Other players to induce gulps from batters include Kevin Gausman, of the Toronto Blue Jays; Gerrit Cole, of the New York Yankees; and Jacob deGrom, of the Texas Rangers.
